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WEEK OF DECEMBER 5, 2024
VOLUME 158 | ISSUE 49
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Golden plans to enact buffer weekends Golden unveils municipal between large-scale events
center’s concept art, proposed layout City hosting Jan. 21 meeting on Clear Creek corridor’s future BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
derly way with police officers present. Finally, the updated policy would require that all events’ final evaluations are made public. Vaine said the ones from 2024 should be posted on the city’s website in the coming weeks, so “anybody can see how (the events) were reviewed for 2024.” Councilors had questions and concerns about the updated policy as presented at the Nov. 19 meeting, particularly regarding how the notices of intent and the blackout dates would work. Mayor Laura Weinberg felt the term “blackout dates” was confusing, as the city already uses the term for when local outfitters can’t sell and/or rent innertubes.
If all goes according to plan, by 2027 Golden will have a new three-story City Hall and police headquarters along 10th Street between Vasquez and Archer streets. The exterior would be wood and brick, with plaza areas and a nature path on the southwest side. There would be solar panels over the streetlevel parking spots on building’s east side, with additional sublevel parking outside the walkout basement. City employees would have top-ofthe-line work spaces that are more secure and energy-efficient than their current facilities, and Goldenites would have a new City Hall that matches the city’s historical character while also being “future-proof” and “flexible,” officials have described. During a Nov. 20 community meeting, the City of Golden and its architecture team unveiled concept art and a proposed layout for its new municipal center at 311 10th St. The concepts were generally well-received by the meeting’s 30-some attendees, but anyone who missed it is welcome to leave comments on GuidingGolden.com. Overall, City Manager Scott Vargo said the Heart of Golden project is currently on budget and on schedule. Golden is slated to break ground on the municipal center in the summer and, if completed on time, the city would move operations there in late 2026 or early 2027. Preliminary cost estimates for construction are about $60 million. The city has proposed a phased debt issuance of up to $65 million to finance the project by issuing Certificates of Participation.
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The Platte Valley Players sing and do hand movements on their float for the annual “Best of the West” Parade July 27 for the Buffalo Bill Days festival. The City of Golden is planning to update its events policy to require buffer weekends between large-scale events, among other changes. FILE PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN
Updated policy also includes last call for alcohol, public postevent evaluations BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Events in downtown Golden, particularly large summertime events, will look a little different next year, as the City Council prepares to approve an updated events policy at its Dec. 17 meeting. The updated policy includes several items, but perhaps the most notable is the blackout dates — or buffer weekends — to ensure large-scale events don’t take place on the same or consecutive week-
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ends. City officials have described how this would give the parks and people time to recover from busier-thanusual summer weekends. “People get crowd fatigue,” Thriving Communities Director Sarah Vaine said, adding how both Goldenites and visitors “enjoy a quieter community.” City Council tabled the item at its Nov. 19 meeting after staff and councilors wanted to make a few revisions to the resolution, so staff recommended bringing it back in December and approving it as a consent matter item. Generally, consent matter items are considered routine and are approved collectively in one motion. They aren’t separately discussed unless a councilor requests to do so. The updated events policy
includes, but isn’t limited to: • Expanding the Special Events Review Committee from six members to 13 members to provide more diverse perspectives and expertise; • Having SERC meetings every month, make them public meetings and allow time for public comment; • Establishing an objective review process for all events; • Requiring event organizers to submit a notice of intent, so the city can build an events calendar and avoid conflicting events; • Requiring Tier 1 events – the largest in the city – to have public shuttles to circulate people to parking areas and pay associated fees; and • Implementing a last call for alcohol 30 minutes before the event ends, so organizers can close things out in an or-
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